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Fire-ravaged First Nations community accuses Ottawa of denying it federal aid
The community says Ottawa is withholding emergency and rebuilding support as more than 900 wildfires burn across Canada, officials said.
- Namaygoosisagagun First Nation was devastated by a wildfire that destroyed the community on Wednesday, but lawyer Meaghan Daniel says the federal government is denying emergency aid because it doesn't formally recognize the community under the Indian Act.
- Residents of the community, located 200 kilometres from Thunder Bay, fled by boat after receiving no advance warning or evacuation support from provincial or national officials as the blaze consumed their homes in under an hour.
- Daniel, representing the community, wrote to Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty demanding equal treatment, noting that while residents hold individual status under the Indian Act, Ottawa refuses to grant the same recognition to the community itself.
- The First Nation risks losing its ability to rebuild entirely without access to emergency and reconstruction support available to recognized communities, threatening the future of community members in their ancestral home.
- Across Canada, 903 wildfires including 193 in Ontario have forced 2,182 people from their homes across 13 nations, placing immense strain on emergency resources during the current fire season.
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Thousands flee as First Nations bear the brunt of Canada’s wildfires
More than 900 wildfires are burning throughout Canada, with devastating impacts for First Nations. Thirteen Nations remain under evacuation orders that have forced 2,182 people from their homes. The Namaygoosisagagun (Collins) First Nation watched one blaze largely destroy its entire community in less than an hour, forcing residents to flee by boat. Residents reported having only minutes to gather their belongings before homes were overtaken by…
·Seattle, United States
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The Toronto Star+33 Reposted by 33 other sources
Fire-ravaged First Nations community accuses Ottawa of denying it federal aid
OTTAWA - A lawyer representing a small Ontario First Nations community that was burned to the ground by a raging wildfire says it's being deprived of necessary help because the
·Toronto, Canada
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Total News Sources38
Leaning Left24Leaning Right0Center12Last UpdatedBias Distribution67% Left
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources lean Left
67% Left
L 67%
C 33%
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